egg-free Archives

Lauki Kofta (Air Fryer & Stove-top)

lauki kofta curry served in a copper dish with one kofta cut to show the inside

August 27, 2022

This easy Lauki Kofta curry is a simple vegan dish made with lauki (bottle gourd) koftas which are dunked in a tomato-onion based curry. The koftas are traditionally deep fried, but I like air frying them. This makes a simple and comforting meal which can be served with boiled rice or any bread of choice.

One of the ways I enjoyed lauki as a child (other than lauki kheer) was when mom made Lauki Kofta. In Indian cooking, we refer to koftas as small dumplings which are deep fried and...

Instant Pot Fig Chutney

fig chutney served in a small bowl with crackers and almonds on the side

August 25, 2022

Seasonal fresh figs, spices, sugar and vinegar are combined together in this delightful fig chutney which is good on just about everything. It’s vegan, made in the Instant Pot and can be enjoyed with any bread or crackers of choice. It will also make a fantastic addition to your charcuterie board!

I love making chutneys with in season fruits like peaches, apples etc. These chutney go well with so many things and make a great accompaniment to Indian breads. With figs being...

Instant Pot Vegetable Daliya (Broken Wheat Khichdi)

vegetable daliya served on a white plate with spoon on the side

August 19, 2022

Simple one-pot and nutritious Vegetable Daliya made with broken wheat and veggies is my go-to meal for busy days. It’s easy to make, vegan, minimally spiced and very filling with all the veggies and fiber.

When I was a kid, I wasn’t very fond of daliya aka broken wheat (it is also known as cracked wheat). My mom always made daliya for breakfast and it was made in 2 days in my house- meetha daliya (sweet daliya) and namkeen daliya (savory daliya). The sweet version...

Instant Pot Lemon Quinoa (South Indian Style)

white bowl with yellow color quinoa topped with peanuts, with a wedge of lemon in the background along with a bowl of peanuts

August 15, 2022

Here’s a fun take on the traditional south Indian Lemon Rice- this Lemon Quinoa has the same flavors as the rice but is more wholesome and protein-packed! Its a one-pot, vegan meal which requires minimal prep-work and can be easily made on busy weeknights.

Quinoa is something I have grown to like over the years. At first, I wasn’t a fan but then I developed the palate for it and now I enjoy it in various forms.

Sarvesh on the other hand...

Karachi Halwa

August 10, 2022

Karachi Halwa is a sweet made with cornstarch and has a characteristic chewy texture. It feels and stretches almost like rubber. Making it at home is definitely a labor of love but one bite into this delicious halwa, and the effort seems worth it.

Karachi Halwa was one of my favorite sweets while growing up (along with besan ladoo and rasmalai and motichoor ladoo). I remember I would beg mom to get me a few pieces of Karachi halwa from this one particular...

Kalakand

August 7, 2022

Kalakand is an Indian sweet fudge made with milk and often flavored with cardamom. Plain kalakand is the most popular one but there are several other variations to it like mango kalakand, rose kalakand etc. This is an easy to make sweet for festivals like Diwali, Raksha Bandhan and more!

When I started making Indian sweet at home, it was probably because I missed home so much and making and eating the sweets, I grew up eating made me feel close to home (well, as...

Paneer Pesto Pasta with Cherry Tomatoes

bowl of spaghetti tossed with pesto and paneer, garnished with basil

August 4, 2022

This summer vegetarian pasta combines my homemade pesto with cherry tomatoes and paneer! Packed with lots of fresh flavors, this paneer pesto pasta makes the perfect meal for date nights or special occasions. Serve with a side of crusty bread.

Paneer is such a versatile ingredient. You can add it to anything and everything, right from curries to lasagna, pizza and even your pasta. Have you ever done that? Added paneer to...

Easy Vegan Pesto

bowl of pesto garnished with a fresh basil leaf

July 28, 2022

Easy vegan pesto comes together in 10 minutes and makes a great sauce for pasta, salads, sandwiches and more. I keep a bottle of this versatile sauce in my refrigerator at all times to make easy dinners!

Pesto is one of my favorite sauces. I didn’t know about it 10 years ago and got introduced to it only when I moved to the US. It quickly became my favorite sauce and I started using it over my pasta and salads...

Iced Mocha

July 26, 2022

Make this easy and refreshing Iced Mocha on a hot summer day! It’s made with easily available ingredients and is the perfect way to cool down on a hot day. Add a scoop of ice cream to make it creamier.

Cold coffee is one of my favorite summer drinks. It’s easy to make and tastes great every time. When I used to live in India, I would make cold coffee and mango milkshake during summers all the time. They would be my evening treats as I didn’t like drinking hot chai in 115...

Mango Milkshake

July 13, 2022

Sweet and creamy Mango Milkshake is a great way to enjoy the sweet mangoes in season. Made with just few ingredients, you can enjoy this milkshake for breakfast or evening snack. Make it plain or jazz it up by adding some vanilla ice cream to it.

As soon as summer kicks in and the mango season arrives, I make mango milkshake pretty much everyday in my kitchen (along with Mango Lassi). Sarvesh is a huge mango fan (I have mentioned that several times on the blog) and his favorite way to...

Homemade Choco Bar Ice Cream

two choco bar ice creams on top of each other with top one revealing the inner vanilla ice cream

July 7, 2022

Beat the heat with this homemade Choco Bar Ice Cream. Soft vanilla ice cream bars dipped in chocolate makes the ultimate summer treat. Keep them plain or roll in nuts for added texture!

Which ice cream immediately takes you to your childhood days? For me it is Choco bar and Feast! For those who grew up in India during the 90s would totally get what I am talking about. That ice cream cart vendor selling choco bar, mango twist, cornetto and feast would be my favorite person during...

Dal Palak (Spinach Dal)

July 5, 2022

Hearty and wholesome Dal Palak (Spinach Dal) is lightly spiced and makes a great comforting meal. It can be served with any grain of choice and is also vegan.

Adding spinach to your dal is a good way to include some greens in your diet, don’t you think? I have always been someone who loves their greens, saag is my absolute favorite. However, I remember my brothers not being too fond of spinach and...